Monetization/Gambling: It is against site rules to use money, a substitute thereof, or any good/service with equitable use (NS Store purchases, game keys or vouchers, e-giftcards, etc.) to incentivize or monetize any activity on NationStates, to include but not be limited to: joining or participating in a region, joining or participating in a thread, joining an alliance (roleplay or gameplay), etc. Similarly, it is against site rules to use the same as a "reward" for participation in any of the aforementioned or any "game," "contest," etc.
With Cards having an actual currency behind them, or Bank, it may be advantageous for their use as payment for various R/D, RP, and WA activities, especially as they have been unconnected with any sort of real monetary value. As cards are not bought with money and are not "any good/service with equitable use" as a result, nor are they a substitute of RL money in that they cannot be created from RL money, should Cards be considered subject to this rule or not? Additionally, if they are, could an exception be made for them in usage for payment?
Cards could potentially be used as payment for:
- Mercenary invasion of a target region.
- Ransom payment against invasion.
- An operation against or for a region.
- Having someone be in your region (reverse rent).
- Defense payment for constant reinforcement.
- General payment for nonaggression.
- Losses in RP wars/battles/sports.
- Use in an RP Economy.
- Payment for a SC Resolution by a reputed author.
Possible Disadvantages could be:
- Artificial price inflation for certain Cards to increase their value for payment.
- Artificial price deflation for certain Cards to negatively impact those who have them.
- Forced selling of cards at prices advantageous to the buyer.
- Puppet flooding of regions for wanted cards to be able to gain said card (could be fixed by restricting cards to a player's WA nation).
- Fluctuations/price changes to a Card's value completely unrelated to the rarity of the Card and unknown to those not involved in R/D, RP, and/or the WA.
